A group of young mothers, participating in a Southern Health and Social Care Trust programme, have published their own cookbook after setting out on a quest to discover fresh and new culinary routines. The aptly named ‘Let’s Cook Book’ provides tips, tricks and tools as well as delicious recipes. The support group, known as The Ladybird Forum, was set up to improve the participants’ confidence and build their self-esteem, both as young women and parents.

The Trust continually looks for projects and challenges that help these young mothers to build new skills. The most recent challenge has been designing and publishing a mouth-watering cookbook, which can be used by these young people and care teams across the Trust.

The book provides cooking tips and step by step guides to cooking simple low cost dishes and snacks. Imelda Fearon, a social worker for the Southern Trust, who co-ordinated the Ladybird programme, said: “It has been a great experience working with these young people. Initially when the girls came to the Ladybird group they were in doubt as to what its relevance would be to them as young mums. Within a few weeks it was clear that the girls were enjoying and benefiting from the opportunity to be with others in a similar situation to themselves.”

Imelda added: “Each of them helped identify a range of topics and issues they felt would be beneficial to address or learn more about, which shows they were all fully committed and keen to avail of services that in their view can make a difference.

“I would like to thank the social work students, Aveen Rafferty and Aideen Boyle, who both assisted in many ways with the delivery of the programme, and also Sarah Girvan who was involved with the production of our ‘Let’s Cook Book’, “ continued Imelda.

“Given the right support and opportunity it is evident that each of these young mums have great potential. I have no doubt that these girls will continue to do a great job as young women and as parents and remain a credit to themselves,” added Imelda.